Velocipede construction



Feb. 6, 1940. s. A. SNELL VELOCIPEDE CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 8, 1957 I INVENTOR AMUEL A.SNELL l9 Alla; 24

ATTORNEYS 20 structure embodying my invention, with parts plugor nut/21 within and welded or brazed to th'e 20 Pat ente dFe b 6, 1940 i i v v a v UNI TED STATES PATENT OFFICE v a hzgisazsz i VELOQIPEDE CONSTRUCTION,

I i v Samuel A. Snell, Toledo; Ohio, assignor to The American-#National Company,- Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio i Application November 8, 937, e l No. 17 3, 4 95 14 Claims.- (01. 301-125 This invention relates generally to juvenile veand an intermediateflat leaf spring l6 secured at W hicles and refers moreparticularly to velocipedes. opposite ends tosaid brackets l5, As shown,the One of the essential objects of the invention ,wheels C are mounted on the stubaxles l4, and is to provide avelocipede wherein the rear axle the brackets I are preferably elongated stamp- 5 has a flexible portion which materially improves ings having downturned portions "at opposite 5 the riding qualities and effectively cushions the ends thereof sleeved on the stub axles l4 and A rider from shocks and jars. y, s having upturned portions l8 atopposite longitu- Another object is to provide an improved dinal edges thereof embracing and secured to the means for connecting the axle to the backbone flat spring l6. For securing the axle D to .the

10] of the velocipede. I g s i backbone I, Ihave provided a pair of cooperating 10 Another object is to provide a relatively simple stampings l9 and 28 having semi-circular porconstruction that can be manufactured at a tions 2!, and 22, resp tiv l @mbracing a d comparatively low cost. g i M Welded or brazed to said backbone I at its lower v Other objects, advantages and novel detailsof end and having cooperating depending elongated g 1 construction of this invention; will be made more portions 23 and 24, respectively, straddling the flat l5 apparent as this description proceeds, especially spring It." Another stamping constituting 'a W when considered connection with the accomclamp engages the undersideof the flat spring 16 panying drawing wherein: between-thedependingportions 23 and 24 and is" Figure 1 is a side elevation of a velocipede held in place by a bolt 26 threadedly engaging a broken away and in section; backbone l at its lower end. Thus, with'myconj Figure 2 is a fragmentary rear elevation of th struction the flat leafspring I6 of the rear axles,- velocipede; 1 V provides a flexibility simulating any actionthat is Figure ii is a detail view of two of the stampeifective for cushioning the rider from road 25 ings use d to connecttherear axle to the backshocks and jars. I s 25 v f bone; i i i What'I claim as myinvention is: i M Figure 4 is adetail view of one of thestamp- 1. In a velocipede, a backbone; a pair of supq v ings shown in, Figure 3; s s I porting wheelsfor the backbone, an axleforthe Figure 5 is a detail view of the other stampa wheels having a flexible portion intermediate its 30 ing shown in Figure 3, 3 I ends, a connection between the flexible portion 30 I Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line of said axle andsaid backbone including coop 6- 6, of Figure 2 i crating members fastened to said backboneand Referring now to the drawing, A is the frame, straddling the flexible portion of -the axle, and a B is the front wheel, and C are the rear wheels clamp fastened to said backbone and holding the, of a velocipede embodying my invention. As flexible portion of the axle in fixedposition rela- 5' shown, the frame A comprises a non-flexible tive to said members. backbone I of tubular construction, a front fork 2. In a velocipede, a backbone, a pair of sup- 2 connected to said backbone atits forward end porting wheels for the backbone, an axle for the I and straddling the front wheel B, and an axle D Wheels having a flexible portion intermediate its 40 for the rear wheels C. ends, a connection between the flexible portion of 3 is an axle for the front wheel B journalled in said axle and said backbone including a plurality the furcations of the front fork 2 and provided of stampings, a plug, and a bolt, two of said at opposite ends thereof with cranks 4 having stampings and said plug being fixed to said backpedals 5. As usual, the front fork 2 carries a bone, and another stamping cooperating with the suitable fender 6 and is connected at its upper end two stampings aforesaid to grip the flexible por to thedepending post I of a steering bar 8. tion of the axle and being actuable by said bolt. A seat?) is adjustably mounted in a bracket l0 3. In a velocipede, a strip of flexible material, on the backbone l and is held in adjusted position a non-flexible backbone extending at substanby a nut H. Preferably the supporting post l2 tially right angles to said strip, anda coupling H for the seat threadedly engages abushingl3 carbetween said strip and backbone including 00- ried by thebracket l0 and is engaged beneath operating. parts embracing the backbone and the backbone l by the nut. straddling said strip, and means carried by the In the present instance. the axle D for the rear backbone for holding the cooperating parts" in. wheels C comprises, a pair of stub axles l4, engagement as aforesaid with said backbone and brackets I5 on said stub axles at their inner ends, strip. 55

4. In a veloci'pede, astrip of flexible material, a non-flexible backbone extending at substantially right angles to said strip, and a coupling between said strip and backbone including cooperating parts secured to the backbone and straddling said strip, a clamping member engaging said cooperatingparts, and actuatin means for said clamping member carried by said backbone.

5. In a velocipede, a backbone, an axle disposed at'substantially right angles to said backbone, and a connection between said partsincluding cooperating members having portions secured to the backbone and having portions straddling said axle, and means for holding the portions aforesaid in fixed relation to the axle including an element rigid with the backbone, and adjustable means carried by said element and cooperating with one of said portions.

6. In a. velocipede, a backbone, an axle disposed at, substantially right angles to said backbone, and a connection between said parts including cooperating members secured to the backbone and straddling the axle, a clamp upon the underside of the axle, an element fixed to the backbone, and an element engaging the clamp and adjustably' engaging the fixed element afore-.

said.

'7. In a velocipede, a backbone, an axle disposed at substantially right angles to saidbackbone, and a connection between said parts inthe backbone, and means holding the axle in position relative to said straddling means including clamping means on the underside of said axle ,"and' supported from said backbone.

9. In a velocipede, a backbone, an axle disposed at substantially right angles to'said backbone, means straddling the axle and secured to the backbone, means holding the axle in position relative to said straddling means including a clamping member engaging the underside of said axle, and adjusting means for saidv clamping member carried by said backbone.

10. In a velocipede, a backbone, an axle disposed at substantially right angles to said backbone, and clamping means for said axle carried by the backbone, one part of said clamping means being suspended from and rigid with said backbone, and the other part of said clamping means being suspended from, but adjustable relative to said backbone.

11. In a velocipede, a backbone, an axle disposed at substantially right anglesto said backbone, and a connection between said axle and backbone including twocooperating clamping means carried by said backbone and engaging said axle, one of said means being rigid with the backbone, and the other of said means being adjustably connected to said backbone.

the lower end of and disposed at substantially right angles to said backbone, and a connection between said parts including cooperating members rigidly secured to the backbone and having depending portions straddling said axle, and

means for holding the axle in position relative to said'members including clamping means on the underside of said axle between said depending portions and adjustably connected to said backbone. 1

13. In a velocipede, a tubular backbone, an axle disposed at substantially right angles to said backbone at the lower end thereof, and a connection between the backboneand axle including'cooperating stampings having portions embracing and rigidly secured'to the backbone and having depending portions straddling the axle, a clamping member on the underside of the axle between said depending portions, a plug anchored in the tubular backbone, and actuating means for the clamping member including a bolt extending through the clamping member and axle and threadedly engaging said plug.

14. In a velocip-ede, a tubular backbone, an'

axle disposed at substantially right angles to said backbone at the lower end thereof, and a connection between the backbone and axle including cooperating members having portions rigidly secured to opposite sides of the backbone and having depending portions straddling the axle, a clamping member on the underside of the axle, a plug anchored in the tubular backbone, and actuating means for the clamping member including a member readily engaging said plug.

SAMUEL A. SNELL. 

